About Me

Known as 'Peter Porcupine', I championed traditional rural England and its values against changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution. As the father of modern political commentary, I invented the attack ad...or pamphlet. In my 'Political Register', I was the first to pubish political debates to inform the public about the conduct of politicians. Fleeing England after accusing my Regiment of financial chicanery, I came to America in order to live and write in a free country, until I faced a jail sentence for my pamphlets. While in America, my 'Porcupine's Gazette' was the most widely read political commentary of my day. After returning to England, I served two years in Newgate for writing to protest flogging in the army, and returned to America again. Returning to England shortly before I died, I spent my last years as a Member of Parliament.